Shock-resistant fluorescent lamp holder



May 30, 1944. E. FUCHS SHOCK RESISTANT FLUORESGENT LAMP HOLDER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed NOV. 14, 1942 May 30,1944. E FUCHS 2,350,105

SHOCK RESISTANT FLUORESCENT LAMP HOLDER Filed NOV. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E 1N VEN TOR. Y Emanuel Fuchs Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED S'l`.1\TE..".`I PATENT OFFICE 2,350,105 SHOCK-RESISTANT FLUORESCEN T LAMP HOLDER Emanuel Fuchs, Jersey City. N. J.

Application November 14, 1942, Serial No. 465,620

6 Claims. t(Cl. 24U-78) This invention relates to holders for fluorescent lamps and particularly to the means for holding the various parts of the lamp operating device properly in place in the holder.

Considerable difdculty has previously been experienced in securing the various electrical devices which are customarily interpolated in the circuit to a fluorescent lamp, inA place in the holder therefor adequately to resist physical shocks such as those which are caused by concussions, impact or vibrations. The parts become displaced under such shocks and fail to function and sometimes even fall out of the holder or housing for the lamp. Ordinary fastening means have not proven effective, particularly when the lamps are used on war 'vessels and the like where heavy shocks and concussions are to be expected.

The invention therefore contemplates the provision of an efficient lamp holder or fixture highly resistant to shock and adapted to function even under severe vstresses and wherein readily detachable means are provided "to secure the parts rmly and adequately in their proper operative positions and in such a manner that the parts are easily accessible and removable for replacement and repair, said means however, so suspending the parts held thereby that breakage or displacement under the severe stresses is minimized.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a simple, economical and efficient but quickly detachable lock for the lamp or plurality of lamps in the holder to prevent their displacement or detachment when the fixture is subjected to 'heavy shocks or vibrations.

The various objects of the invention will be clear from the description which follows and from the drawings, in which. l

Fig. 1 is a combined fragmentary front view and vertical section of my improved holder.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. g

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view and partial section of the lamps as they appear inserted into the sockets therefor and removably locked in place by the lamp lock.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a similar end view of a modified form of the lamp lock as applied to a single lamp.

Fig. 6 is a similar end view of the lamp lock with its clamping bolt omitted.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of part of the lamp housing showing the means for securing the lamp ballast or transformer in position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of lthe same. I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the starter switch and button showing the securing means therefor and the spring for mantaining the starter button in position.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front view and partial vertical section of the same.

In the practical embodiment of the invention shown by way of example, the lamp housing I I is preferably, though not necessarily, formed `of plastic sheets, plates or molded parts comprising the one-piece top front and back member I2, the end members I3 and the shade member I4. Suitable angle corner braces I5, I6 preferably of suitably bent sheet metal, and the U-shaped shade strap I 1 serve as the means for bracing and securing the housing parts and also serve as a support means for the attachment thereto of other parts as will be more fully described hereinafter.

To support the lamp sockets as I8, I5, said sockets are secured to the member 20 which is in the shape of an.inverted U extending substantially the entire length of the housing and having a pair of depending legs. Each of said legs is fastened to an angle brace I6 as by means of a screw 2l engaging the nut 22 (Fig. 7) secured to relation to the housing I I.

l inward spaced relation to its end surface. Into the upright leg of said brace. As best shown in Figs. l and 10,`the member 20 is in inwardv spaced To receive the prongs 23, 24 of the lamp 25, the socket I8 is provided with a pair of parallel slots 26, 21 extending inwardly from the edge thereof and open at said edge, there being suitable electrical connections (not shown) in the slots to supply current to the lamp. Where a multiplicity of lamps is held in the fixture,` each socket for the lamps is similarly slotted.

I have found, however, that the prongs of the lamps 25 and 28 cannot be properly retained in the socket slots provided therefor, in those cases where the lamp assembly is subjected to shock, heavy vibrations or comparatively severe concussions. I have therefore provided a lock for removably securing any number of lamps such as the twin lamps 25, 28 or a single lamp in the corresponding sockets. As best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6 wherein the invention is shown applied to twin lamps,l a circumferential groove as 29 is made in the end portion of the lamp in slight the groove is inserted the ilange 30 of each of the similar but opposed locking members 3|, 32.

. u Each of said members is preferably made of sheet metal and is provided with a pair of spaced partly cylindrical walls 33, 34 each less than a half cylinder in .extent and joined by the wall 35 having a. hole 36 therein for the passageof the bolt 31. Said wall 35 is arranged intermediate the axes of the cylindrical walls and the outermost portions of said walls. In the operative position of the lock, the cylindrical walls 33, 34 engage thccorresponding cylindrical wallsy of the sockets I8, I9, while the connecting wally 35 is arranged between the sockets. When the Wing nut ofthe bolt 31 is tightened with the members 3I and 32 in place around the sockets, the flanges are more deeply inserted into and locked in the lamp grooves 29, thereby preventing the lamp prongs from moving out of the socket slots, the open ends of said slots .being closed on". Nor can the lock members move relatively to the sockets vin any direction by reason of the ilange 30 and the clamping action of the bolt which forces the walls 33, 34 of each of the lock members vtoward the corresponding walls of the other lock member thereby to clasp and clamp the sockets between them.

To provide for adjustment, the respective ends 38, 39 of the lock members are spaced apart a proper comparatively small distance in the normal locking positions thereof. The flange 30 is also preferably cut away at the walls to make said walls somewhat exible and thereby to aid in the locking action by permitting suf cient tightening of the bolt and the consequent exertion of, the required .pressure upon the socket clamping parts 33, 34.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the lock member 40 may be made o1' one piece having the cylindrical wall 4l, the end walls 42, 43 and the outstanding spaced anges 44, 45, the flanges being preferably omitted at the top to give flexibility to the lock member, said iianges being also omitted at the walls 42, 43 for the same reason. The iianges 44, 45 lock into the groove 29 in the lamp as heretofore explained in connection with the description' of the lock members 3|, 32. It will be understood that there are as many walls 33 or 34 as there are sockets and lamps to be held, and that the wall 35 is provided between each set of walls 33, 34, so that the lock is applicable to any number of lamps to be mounted in the fixture.

in buildings, it has been found inadequate in places where concussions and shocks are frequent, as on board war vessels. I have therefore provided simple means, resistant to fheavy shocks, but slightly yieldable thereto, for holding the ballast. As best shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the longitudinally arranged strip 49 is interposed between the ballast and .the member 20, and the parallel reinforcing strip 50 is arranged against the under side of the top of the housing member I2., the heat resistant and insulating washers as 5I bebolts 54, the strip 49 serving also to brace the member 20 and to limit the extent to which it yields under heavy stresses. A number of such straps 52 are provided at longitudinally spaced intervals along the ballast, the straps eliminating the danger o1' displacement of the lamp ballast under the unusual stresses mentioned while providing a limited amount oi exibility.

Another point where weakness may develop and displacement of the parts may occur under high pressures such as are produced by shocks or concussions is at the starter switch button 55 (Figs. 9 and 10). The flat spring 56 is therefore provided to urge the button toward its normal position and to maintain it in that position under the unusual stresses mentioned while serving to absorb some of the shock by its yeldability. Said secured to the member.

spring has a at portion 51 engaging the end surface of the button and terminating in a free end, while at its other end the spring is secured to the bracket 58 as by the bolt 53. The bracket is in turn fastened by any suitable means (such as spot welding) to the angle corner member I5. The starter switch 6I is suspended from the member 2B as by means of the Z-shaped bracket S2 having one arm secured to the switch and the other arm The reflector 63 may be suitably perforated or cut away for the passage therethrough of the starter button. While ing interposed between the strips 49 and 50 to form a suspension slightly yieldable under shocks, for the strip 4@ and the ballast. The strap 52 is shaped to pass underneath the ballast and is provided with end at securing ears 53. Said ears, together with the strips 49 and 56 and the washers 5l are all held iirmly but slightly yieldingly to the housing and against the member 20 by the the spring 53 permits the button to yield a certain amount under heavy stresses, it is stiff enough to do its work of maintaining the button in its proper position at all times.

It will be seen' from the above, that I have provided amounting for the parts of iiuorescent lamp fixture, which while capable of absorbing some of the heavy shocks to which such fixtures may be subjected in certain installations, adequately maintains the parts in their proper positions and permits them to function properly nevertheless under such shocks. and that I have provided a device well designed to withstand and meet the severe conditions of practical use.

While I have shown and described certain spe- F cic embodiments of my invention, it will be unlamps, a housing, a support member within the housing. and in .the shape of an inverted U, a lamp socket secured to the support and having a pair of parallel prong-receiving slots therein, a tubular lamp having terminal prongs thereon adapted to enter the slots and having a circumferential groove therein adjacent the inner ends of the prongs, means for removably locking the lamp in the socket comprising a member arranged to clasp the socket and having a iiange thereon entering the groove of the lamp and a bolt to clamp the member to the socket and to lock the flange in said groove, a lamp ballast in the housing, a plurality of straps passing around the ballast and secured to the housing, a starter switch button secured to theA housing, and a spring urging the button toward its operative position and maintaining it in said position.

2. In a shock-resistant fixture for a fluorescent lamp, a housing, a lamp socket in the housing, a lamp ballast in the housing, a starter switch having a starter button within the housing, a support in the housing in the shape of an inverted U for supporting the socket, means for securing the ends of the ballast to the support, a strap passflange thereon entering a groove in the lamp.

3. In a shock-resistant uorescent lamp iixture having a lamp socket, a lamp ballast and a i starter switch button. a housing, a support in the housing in the shape of an inverted U for the socket, the ballast and the button, va shock-resistant lock for the lamp including a iiangedlocking member and means to secure the member to the socket, a series of spaced transverse straps center line joining the centers of the sockets, a ange outstanding substantially perpendicularly from the peripheral edge of each of the portions and entering the groove, and a bolt passing through the walls and positively locking saidl members together against relative movement and against movement in the socket.

5. In a shock-resistant fluorescent lamp fixture having a starter switch provided with a starter button, a housing, a' support member in the housing in the form of an inverted U, means suspending the switch from the support member, a spring for the ballast secured to the housing, and a spring engaging the button and secured to the housing. l

4. The combination with a pair of fluorescent lamps each having a circumferential groove ,Y therein, of a socket for each lamp, a pair of similar locking members each having a pair of longitudinally spaced socket clasping portions and a substantially fiat wall joining said portions, said wall being arranged inwardly of the outermost part of the clasping portion and outwardly of the having a free end portion engaging the button and urging said button toward the switch, and means securing the other end portion of the spring to the housing.

6. In a shock-resistant uorescent lamp fix-4 ture having a lamp ballast, a reiiector and a housing, a support member within the housing and in the shape of an inverted U, and a series of spaced transversely arranged strap members each having a pair of spaced aligned flanges secured to the support member and each having a depending part between the iianges passing around the inner side of the ballast, said ballast and strap members being arranged between the reflector and the support member.

' FUCHS. 

